Sole-molding machine.



No. 810,940. .PATENTED JAN. so, 1906; L

- J, J. HEYS.

' SOLE MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1T0V.26,1902.

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PATENTED JAN. 30,1906.

Jr J. HBYS. SOLE MOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1 .902

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M .3 w s UNITED srArns MAURICE V. BItESNAI-I-AN,

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'JOl-IN JL HEYS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOLE-MOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 1906.

Applicatidn filed November 26,1902. SeriaINo.132,843-.

, To all whmn it may cnccrn:.

for boots and shoes.

Be it known that I, JOHN J. Hai s of Lynn,

in the county of Essex and State of Massamental members commonly termed male and female molds. These molds are mounted in a press in. such manner that the sole may be placed between them when they are separated, after which they are brought together to press or shape has-been customary in machines of this character for the operative to'place each sole-by hand between the molds, putting it in'such I I ing of'the sole serves shank, however, being opposite to' the curva.

location as his experience or 1udgment might dictate, and consequently it has-rarely been the case that two soles have been molded exactlyalike except by accident. The mold to bend that portion of the sole which lies below the ball of the foot in a curve in the direction of its length, as well as transversely, to form between the front portion .and the shank a sharp break or bend, as it is termed ,and-to curve the shank itself longitudinally of its length as well as transversely, the longitudinal curvature of the ture-of that portion of the sole which is below the ball of the'foot. These linesor curvatures vary with the different styles and sizes of boots and shoes; but it is essential that under all conditions the break'or sharp bend should be located at a particular line with reference to the toe of the sole in order that the curvature 'of'the shank portion-shall bear the proper relation to the upper of the shoe or the last upon which it is to be laid. By properly locating to the toe, inthe first instance, it ,is possible to so form or mold the shank portion of the sole that it will lie snug'ly against the shank of the last and permit the upper to bedrawn taut across the waist of the shoe, so that-the shank portion of the sole and the waist of the upper will properly support the arch of the 1 of the foot.

it. Heretofore it the bend or break with relation foot. 1 Inasmuch as the majority of shoes are improperly molded by promiscuous location of the bend orbreak with 'reference to the toe, it will beat once apparent that inthe operation of securing the sole to the lasted shoe the relatively light u per and insole are caused to conformto the ines of the relatively heavy sole, and consequently the shoe is rendered misshapen and is unable to support the arch om a-broken-down metatarsal arch and the pain and discomfort attendant thereupon.

According to the present invention I provide means for accurately locating the molds and for automatically introducing each sole between the complemental molds and positioning it properly between them, so that the molds will act with accuracy upon. the sole in every instance according to its size. In addition the molded sole is returned automat- I ically to the operator when the molds are separated. To providefor this returning of the s0le,I reverse the arrangement of the molds thathas hitherto been followed by securing thefemale ,die' to the stationary cross-head and secure the male mold to themovable table orsupport. The molds move toward and from each other vertically, and the sole is fed at anan'gle to-the direction of their movement. In addition to thus providing for the accurate .molding of the sole the mechanism for feeding the sole renders the machine automatic and obviates the necessity of the operative placing his, hand in a dangerous positon Withrelation to the molds. In addition to the features thus referred to, the mechanism which I have provided is equipped with gaging v mechanism, whereby the same feeding devices may beem loyed for all styles and sizes of molds-an soles molded thereby. from the smallest infants sizes to the largest mens sizes. By means of this. gage theoperator is enabled'to quickly It is for this reason that many ersons who are compelled to stand suffer adapt the feeding? mechanism for various oneembodiment of the pres- Figs. 4 and 5 represent the sole-clamping members in different positions.

socket i-n'the bracket 22. Clamping-screws Figs. 6, 7, and 8 represent male molds of dif- 31 32 respectively serve to adjustably secure ferent sizes and lengths and illustrate how the guide 25 to the pin' 27 and the pin 29 they are. secured to the table or support in the same relation to the feeding-fingers. Fig.

' 9 represents the scale-plate.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a machine of the general character of that illustrated in Letters Patent No. 607,370, granted" to me July. 12, 1898 but it will be understood that it is not limited in its application and that it may be made in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be understood, further, that the phraseology which I have hereinafter employed is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

On the drawings the machine is illustrated as provided with the side standards 10 10 and the uprights 11 11 11, to which is secured the cross-head 12 and which provide guides for the movable tables or supports 13. supports are moved vertically toward and from the cross-head by any suitable means and are preferably operated alternately or" independently, as occasionrequires. To the cross-head and the tables 13 are attached the female and male molds15 '16, respectively. Each male mold rests upon a wedge 17 ,which will be adjusted as specified in my said Letters Patent No. 607,370. Projecting upwardly'thr'ough the said wedge are two index or locating pins 19 19, which serve the function of properl positioning the male molds and holding t em against longitudinal or transverse movement, said molds being provided with apertures to receive said pins, as indicated, as will be hereinafterexplained in greater detail. i

vThe feeding-mechanism for holding the soles between the molds are located upon the and for returning said soles after the. have been molded. In addition each ceding mechanism is capable of adjustment so as to .lay the [sole properly with relation to the molds, so that the same mechanism. may be used in connection with all sizes and shapes of soles for the shoes of men, women, and children. As the two feeding mechanisms for thetwo sets of molds are similar, only one of them need be described.

The support or table 13 for the male die is provided with two'fbrackets 22 23, respectively, attached to the rear and front ends thereof.

24 indicates a bar movable longitudinally of the length of the molds and arranged at one side thereof. Said bar 24 is mounted in guides 25 26, respectively. The guide 25 is adjustably secured to a laterally-extending pin 27, which is pivoted by a screw 28 to an upright pin 29, adjustably arranged in a universal adjustment.

The said to the bracket 22, so that said guide has a The guide 26 for the front end of the bar 24 is adjustably secured to a laterally-extending pin 33, pivoted by a bolt 34 to an upright pin 35, adjustably secured in the'upper end of the bracket 23. The bolts or pintles 34 28 may be screwed home to hold the pins 27 33 either in horizontal or in inclined position. According to this method of adjustment of the bar 24 it may be arranged in exact relation to the molds, so

that it may be'located upon any type of solemolding machine. The bar 24 carries and actuates the sole-feeding mechanism. The ineans for reciprocating the bar 24 includes a segmental rack 40, formed on an arm 41,

which is pivotedupon a stud 42, projecting laterally from the bracket 22. Formed with the arm 41 is a second arm 43, having a roll '44 extending into a cam path 45, formed in a bracket 46. This bracket is supported upon the frame. Its lower end is formed with an aperture 461, vertically elongated to receive a cross-bar 47, extending between the standards 10 10 of the machine. Adjustable oppositely-proj ecting set-screws 48 48 are passed into the aperture 461, so as to adjustably support the bracket upon the rod or crossbar 47. The upper end of the bracket isadjustably clamped to the side standard 10 of the machine by any suitable means, as by a clamp 49 on the outside of the standard and the screw 50 passed therethrough' into the bracket 46.- The cross-bar at 47 is one of the tie-rodsof the machine and is relied upon to hold the bracket against movement, being connected to-the bracket by the oppositelyprojecting set-screws 48. The provision of the set screws enables the adjustment of the bracket. The said cross-bar is mountedinthe side'standards 10 10,0f the machine. The bar 24 is provided with rack-teeth 51, inte'r meshing with the segmentalrack 40. The cam-path 45 has the two vertical end portions a and b connected-by an inclined'portion 0, so that as the table 13 is raised and lowered the arm 43 is caused by the location" 1 of its roller 44 in the cam-path to be oscillated aboutthe stud 42, so as to rock the segment and reciprocate the bar 24. The parts.

are so timed that before the table reaches the upper extreme of its movementthe bar 24 is anism operates to lay the sole between the molds or dies prior to their engagement as the table moves upward and to withdraw the sole from the molds as the table is moving downward.

- Adjustab'ly secured to the bar 24 ,by screws 1 j the heel end of t e sole may (which-said heel end ofthe sole ma be sup.- against -6O1,]is'a earrier 60, upon whichare secured thefingers, clamps, or members for engaging the sole and a gage for properly placing or locating the sole with reference to the molds or dies. The fingers or clam s are arranged to en age the edges ofvthe so e near the heel end t ereof at the instant that the table 13 begins its upward movement to bring; the male'die or mold to a os ition of pressure. The said fingers are indicated at 6161, re-

to indent theleather and-secure a on the sole, and each base rejection 67to take over the face of the so e.. .Each' finger or clamp is provided with a lateral toothed segment 63, said segments intermeshing, as

shown in Figs. 4-and.5, so that. the movement of the fingers. toward and from each,

other is simultaneous and to the samej'extentt J,An adjusting-screwv 64 ispassed through a projection 65 on the uidesefwith' its-end position to enga e one .of these 11 -fitl'as the carrier 60 an the bar-24 reach th vend 'ofv their retractive movement or. as they reach. H

an before said molds reach their o'sltion' of the end of their movement away from the molds. Consequently when the carrier-[is reaching the extreme .of its outward movement the end of the screwfi l, being stationary, is struck by one of the segments'63 and the fingers are opened against the tension-ofv the spring 62, so as to release the sole.

providing vfor the-ad'ustment of the tstop, as the screw 64 maye termed, thegfingdrs 60..

fre uires.

be. opened much or-little, as occasion n operation, separated and that the table 13 is-at the lower end of its movement, a sole maybe placed between the fingerswith itsfront por-'. tion resting n on the top of -the mold 16. -Then as theta 1e '13. rises the roll 44 immedi-' enters the inclined portion 0 of-the-camatelly b pat 45. and' the rod 24 and the carrier start rearwardly'. As soon,- as the segment 63 leaves the stop 64 the fin ers close. upon the sole and carry it rearwar ly with relation to the molds so as to' place it in proper position between them. After the mol s have molded the sole the table.1 3 moves downward and the carrier 60 is returned to forward position, .the' fin ers (ll-opening when-the stop 64 is engage by one .of the segments 63.. "It is desirable and essential, however, that the sole should be placed infexact position with. relation to-the mold, and therefore there is;

provided an adilustable gag; a ainstwhich' ported prior to the movement oft e sole to assuming that the molds aree p aced and by position between the molds. The said gage consists of and or bar 70, arranged inparallelism with the'rod 24 and place in aguideway or. vaperture in-the-laterall extending portion 68.;ofthe carrier 60. he front or 'mner end of the rod is rovided with a hqriwalls orshoulders 7272. These walls orm an angle of about one hundred degrees, and the? are adapted'to receive the curved heel the walls, or shoulders 72 72. Consequently .w an the .earrier moves rearwardly the gage niation'of" the shoulders or walls .2 Permits the. accurate centering of the sole and its cor- .6161, and-when the'sole is engaged by. the fingers it is-held from flateralmo'vement by its engagement with the gage. The gage is located above the-segments .63 as shown. in.

knife-ed pressure. The-gage is 10 tudina l adjustand shapes-of mo dsandfso es to be molded rthereby; For adg'iusting the gage the rod or bar ,70'is provide which are engaged the se 81 formed on an arm 82,

ental racE-teeth which indicate successive sizes of thesoles, after which the arm- 82 willbev secured in posireceive alocking-pin 93, formed on a v projecting froma 'depressible headed pin 95,

spring (shown in dotted lines at 96 in movement sensa ion toth'e indiv f a sole of an size or width.- The sole I is 'la'cedjwith its; ,eel endrestin upon the we 71 and with its rear or heel e go against rect positioning with relation to -'the"fingers- .Figs.-'1 and. 3;" but the operative ends of the fingersare vertically extended to bring-their ii' I ges intopositi'on'to engage thdedgdj The lug 67 with which each finger is provided, revents the sole from being forced out of; the fingersby the initial engagement ofgthe molds with rack teeth 80, with tudi-.

arm is emplo ed. in con i unction with a scale.-

plate is mounted upon the stud 83,-;and it is provided with a I .To this end ateach one of the gr'aduations 'is p eea f dw.- I

By the pin 95 zontal'flat web 71 an with two diver ent pushes the-.s'oleforward until the sole is enga'ged by the fingers 61. The divergent for.-

able, so that it ma be amp 9' ed wit all sizes lci'umedon'a stud .83, said stud being secured in the-carrier 60. The said arm is provided with anupwardly .proj'ectingbos's 84', which forms a handle. by"

' dle' 84 passes, as shownin- Fig. 1.- The arn'i8 2 -15 moved to register with any one of a'series-of graduations .marked upon the plate ,90 and placed inla socket in the-endof the arm 82; A

recesses formedin the under face ofthe plate 90, into which the pin 93 may be allowed to enter to adjustthe gage for halt sizes of soles,

the flat fore part of the shoe.

each hole or graduation representing a full size of the sole. that with a single pair of molds a lurality of sizes of soles may beproperly mo ded by ad justing the gage with reference to the said molds. The movement of the carrier is always of the same length; but as the sole varies in length it is necessary to adjust the gage toward the mold in molding a smallsized sole and to' move the gage away from the mold in molding a large-sized sole in order that the sole may be properly molded to locate the bend or break accurately with reference to the ball line of the sole. The term ball-line is used in the'sense in which-it is commonlyemployed in shoe factories as the line which defines the rounding shank from This is the true ball-line, and it is always in the same relative location in all shoes, though the sole is many times improperly molded, so as to locate the bend or break away from the true location of the ball-line. According to the present inventionthe bend or break is formed in the sole, so as to coincide with the ball-line.

It is obvious that while'the indicator with its graduations to represent sizes mayaccurately locate a sole'to fit a certain style of shoe or last'as, for instance, for mens shoes yet it is highly desirable to make provision .for'employing the same indicator-plate for molding: soles for various other styles of mens shoes andalso'of womens, youths, boys, misses, and childrens shoes.

The plate 90 is shown in Fig. 9. The apertures are ihdicated by symbols, preferably numerals, indicating the sizes of shoes. Boys and womens shoes arenumbered successively from 1 to 8, with half sizes, of course, and the eight apertures 92 are therefore numbered 1 to 8. Said series of numerals are indicated by the letters fB' & W, meaning ,boys and womens. Childrens and mens shoes are numbered in sizes from 5 to 11, and the apertures 92 (except the first one) are numbered by a second series of numerals 5 to 11, as by the letters C & M, meaning childrens and mens.

Misses and youths shoes are in sizes from 11 l to 2, and the first five apertures are num-- bered by a third series of numerals 11 1213 1 2, as indicatedby the letters M & Y, meaning misses and youths. The molds. for shoes are divided into. five main lengths 'mens, womens, youths, misses, and chil- From this it will be observed Women s, for instance.

the molds having their heel drensand according to my invention the molds are so located in the machine that the feeding mechanism will properly place the soles between them irrespective of their lengths] I The pins 19 19 are arbitrarily located in the table; but the location of the holes in the male molds is determined by the length of the mold and the relation of the heel end of the mold to the forward extremity of movcment of the feeding-fingers. The lingers travel ina fixed path, and therefore when they are in their inward extreme of movement the molds should be so located that the break or bend in the soles will bear the proper relation to the ball-line thereof. As

said, a single pair of molds will mold all the sizes of a line of shoes-as, for instance,

. mens shoes-but the gage is shifted in accordance with the sizes of the'soles of that particular line or. style.- Now the men's 'molds will be the longest, and the apertures 110 for the pins 19 will be located so that the heel end of the mold will be in position for the fingers to lay the sole between them. (See Fig. 6.) i The next shorter molds may be In this case the apertures 110'will be relatively nearer the toe end of the molds, and the heel end of the molds will occupy the same position that the heel end of the menls molds occupied. The

ball-line (indicated at 11;) is moved nearer the -finge1's. ,T-he-- next shorter molds, as for youths, will have the apertures 1.10 still nearer the toe end, and the ball-line :1: willbe again moved toward the fin er, and so on, all ends located in exactly the same place, but the ball-lines being nearer to or farther from .the fingers, ac

cording to the length of the mold. It will,

thus be seen that when an operator places a mold in the machine it-is accurately located without care on his part and that by moving the arm 82 along the slot 91 the gage may be adjusted to properly position the shoes of different sizes. If the operator is working on mens or childrens soles, he is guided by the middle series of numerals, if on boys or womens he is guided by the first or inner series of numerals, vand if on misses oryouths he is guided by the third or outer series of numerals on the plate 90, adjacent the apertures 92; but the shoes of each class vary greatly according to style, and the molds for mens shoes, for instance, may be made for many different styles. loosely pivoted upon the stud S3 and is Therefore said plate isv TOC:

formed'with a curved slot 100, through which the shank of a thumh-screw 101 is passed into a boss 102 on the carrier 68. The plate, with the arm 84, may be swung about the stud 83 and secured in any desirable positionby the thumb. The operator in working upon mens solesa style 47*, for exampleems so setsvthe arm 82 to O & M and adjusts the plate 90 until the sole which is grasped by the fingers is accurately located between the molds. The thumb-screw is screwed tight,

' aftenwhich the arm 82 may be swung along The the scale for the variou's sizes of soles. operator may with a sharp instrument mark a-line on the face of theplate outside of the 1 slot. 100 to register with the thumb-screw and indicate it by a symbol, as 47 and then whenever it isnecessary to mold soles on 47 molds the plate may be quickly adjusted to molds during. the m'oldin automatic mechanism for. actuating said debring the line in registration with the. thumbscrew. W

'It is unnecessary to specifically enumerate the advantages of this invention more than has been done, for they will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates. g

Having thus explained the natureof theinvention and described away of constructing and using the same, although without at vices relatively to said molding mechanism .in conseg uence ofwhich they feed a sole to the mol mg mechanism, hold it during the molding operation, and withdraw it from the -mol ding mechanism.

'3. In a sole-molding machine, molding mechanism, a reciprocatory sole-grasping de-' vice, means for reciprocating said device to cause it to place a sole in'the molding mech-' anism and to'withdraw it therefrom, and

means for causingsaid'device tograsp andi release the sole.

4L In a sole-'moldingmachine, molding mechanism including molds movable toward and from each other, a sole-engagingdevice,

means for causing said device to grasp and ghold a sole, and means for moving said device transversely with relation to both ofsaidmolds, to feed the sole-between the molds and .fltliere hold it without 'saiddeviee lying'between the molds. I

mechanism; including complemental molds movable tdward and from'each other, a soleengaging device, means for causing said' deviceto grasp the heel and of a s'ole, and auto:- matic mechanismfor moving said device relatively to said moldsto 'feed the sole between the molds to holdit there during'themlding' able towar and from them for heel end of a sole and inserting it etwee'n the.

le molding molding operation and to withdraw it therefrom after it is molded,

'6. In a sole molding machine, molding mechanism, a reciprocatory carrier movable toward and irom'the molding mechanism, a

guide therefor, coacting fingers mounted on' said carrier andadapted to engage the edges of a sole, means for opening and closing said fin ers when said carrier is remote from the modding mechanism, and means for actuating said carrier.

7. In a sole molding machine, molding mechanism, fingers adapted to en age the side edges ,of a sole at the heel end .t ereof, a carrier movable in lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal lines of the molds, and

means for actuating said carrier and said fin.- gers whereby said fingers carry a sole becompress the sole. Y

8.v In a sole molding machine, molding mechanism having coactin'g ,molds movable toward and from eachother, coacting fingers adapted to grasp for moving sa d fingers relative] to said molds in lines longitudinal of the so e grasped thereby to feed the sole longitudinally, between the molds, and means for causing said 1 tween the molds and hold it until the molds a sole between them, means fingers to release said sole onl when said fingers are remoteffrom saidmo ds.

9-. In a machine for molding soles, moldin'g me'chanism comprising molds which lack a portion of the heel end whereby the heel of a sole laced between them will project beyond the, eel ends of the molds, and automaticmeans inde endent of the .molds and movasping the molds, whereby said means may. continue to grasp the sole While it is initially engaged by the said molds, and thus prevent the dislocation of the sole.

110. In 'a sole molding machine, molding mechanism including complemental molds movable toward and from each other, fingers adapted to engage the side edges of asole at or near its heel, and mechanism for actuating.

said fingers to lace a solebetween themolds. 11. In a so e-"molding machine, molding mechanism including complemental molds movable toward and from each other, a car- .rier, means formoving said carrier relatively to said molds in lines itransverse to the lines.

of movement thereof, and sole-grasping means mounted on said'carrier, and ada to holdthesole against dislocation wit out said means lying between s'aiddnolds.

712... In a sole -moldingv machine,-moldin g inech'anism including complemental-molds movable toward and from each other, a pair of coa'ctin fingers adaptedto engage a sole between t em, mechanism for movingsaid fingers to place a sole engaged thereby be tween the molds, and mechanism for automatically' opening and, closing said "fingers,

said last-mentioned mechanism causing said fingers to remain closed on the sole during the molding operation. a

13. In a solemolding machine, a pair of molds of which one is movable, a movable support for the movable mold, and automatic sole-feeding mechanism mounted on said movable support and comprising a solegraspmg device, and means for bodily moving said device relatively to the movable' mold in lines transverse to the lines of movement of the mold-support whereby said de vice places a sole between the molds and then withdraws it therefrom, without said device lying between said molds.

'14. In a solemolding machine, a pair of .molds, a movable support for one ofsaid molds, adapted to move from a position of clearance to a position of pressure .and vice versa, a sole-grasping device movable transversely oi the path of movement of said support, and automatic mechanism for moving said device from a sole-receiving position to a osition in which the sole carried thereby is ocated between the molds, without said device, entering the space between the molds,

said mechanisma being timed whereby the sole is placed between the molds, Whensaid.

support is in a positiomof clearance.

15. In a, sole -moldmg machme, molding mechanism, coacting fingers for grasping a sole, a carrier forsaid fingers movable relatively to the molding mechanism, means for causing said fingers to close, means for actuating said carrier to cause'the fingers to feed and hold the sole between the molds, and means for opening the fingers after they have withdrawn the sole from themolds.

16. In a sole-molding-machine, a sole-feed mg mechamsm comprising a devlcefor supporting the heel end of the sole, means for en'- with relation to said fingers to determine the gaging the side edges of said sole, and pro-- visions for movin said device and said means in a direction ongitudmally of the sole.

17. In a sole-molding machine, coacting molds, means forfeeding a sole between said; molds comprising fingers for 'ipping the sole between them, and means or moving 'said fingers relatively to the said molds to feed the sole between them, and a gage adjustable ing-machine comprising supports, a reciprocatory carrier ,thereon, mechanism for reciprocating the carrier, a gage on said carrier, coacting fingers adapted to grasp the heel end of a sole and .to coact with the gage in feeding the sole, from a pointy remote from both molds to a position between the molds, and means for causing the opening of said fingers only when they are remote from the molds.

'20. A sole-feeding attachment for a molding-machine comprising movable supports, a carrier adapted to reciprocate thereon and having rack-teeth, a toothed segment meshing with said rack-teeth and having an arm, a path-cam attached to the frame of the ma- "chine and engaged by said arm, and a soleengaging device on said carrier.

21 Thecombmatmn, with amoldmg-machme having complemental molds, of a solefeeding mechanism comprising devices for engaging and feeding a sole a predetermined distance relatively to both of said molds and a gage mpvable with relation to saiddevices in lines longitudinal of the lines of movement of the said devices, to position the sole relatively to said devices. i

22. The combination, witha molding-machine having complemental molds, of a solefeeding mechanism comprising a carrier movable' relatively to both of the molds, means for so moving said carrier, means on said carrier for engaging and feeding'a sole between the molds, and an adjustable gage on'said carrier movable relatively to said engaging means for determining the extent of movement of the sole between the molds.

23; The combination, with a molding-machine having complemental molds, of a solefeeding mechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier movable with relation to said molds and having coacting fingers for engaging the sole and-feeding it between the molds,

and a gage on said carrier for engaging the heel end of. thesole and determining the extent of movement of the sole.

l 24". A sole-feeding mechanism for-moldingmachines comprising coacting fingersfor engaging the side edges of the sole, a carrier for said fingers movable longitudinally of the sole, a age on said carrier for engaging the heelendpf the sole, and means whereby said lines of movement of the carrier.

25. An attachment for molding-maohines comprising devices for engaging and feeding a sole between the molds, means for moving said devices relatively to the molds, and a Too " gage may be adjusted longitudinally of the feeding mechanism comprising sole engagingportion to engage he edge of the soleat the heel end, means for movingfsaid devices and said gage longitudinally of the sole to feed the same between the molds, and means whereby said gage may be adjusted relatively to said I devices.

27. The combination with a molding-machine havin complemental molds, of a solefeeding mechanism comprising sole-engaging devices. means for moving said devices relatively to the molds to feed a sole between the i molds, an adjustable gage for positioning the sole relatively to said sole-engaging devices, and an indicator for showing the position of the gage.-

28. The combination, with a molding-machine having complemental molds, of a soleter.

30. In a molding-machine, the combination with complemental molds of sole-feed ing devices movable bodily relatively to the molds to feed a sole therebetween, a movable gage movable with the sole-feedin devices, a handle for adjusting said gage wit relation to said devices, and means on the handle for "securing said handle and thereby said gage -in any one of a plurality of positions.

- 31. A sole-feeding mechanismfor molding-. machines comprising a movable gage, an index connected to said gage, an adjustable scale having graduated provisions for the attachment of the index, and means for securing the scale late after adjustment.

32. A mol in -1 nachine comprising molds and mold-supports, sole-feeding devices movable relatively to the molds, a gage, and

means for moving said devices and said gage, said (gage being adjustable relatively to the said evices in accordance with the size of the sole to be molded, to position the sole relatively to said devices.

33; A sole-molding machine comprising molding mechanism, sole -feeding devices, a gage, means for adjusting said gage relatively to said devices for soles. of diiferent kinds, provisions for adjusting said gage relatively to said first-mentioned means for different sizes of soles of the same kind, and means foractuating said devices and said gage relatively to said molding mechanism.

34. A sole-molding machine comprising -molding mechanism, automatic sole-feeding devices inde endent of and movable relatively to sai molding mechanism, and having a uniform range of movement, and a solega e movable with said devices but adjustab e relatively thereto.

35. A sole molding machine comprising complemental molds, and automatic solefeeding mechanism movable with relation to the molds and having provisions whereby soles of different lengths may be laid by said sole -fee'ding mechanism between the said molds with the ball-line of each sole registering with the ball-line of the molds. I 36. Aseries of pairs of complemental molds of different lengths, one mold of each pair having a device by which it may be secured to its support, the devices on all of the said molds so provided being at the same distance from the heel ends.

37. A series of pairs of complemental molds, of different lengths, one mold of each pair having a pin-receiving aperture, and the said apertures in all the molds being at the same distance from the heel ends.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- JOHN J. Witnesses:

M. B. MAY, G. D. HALL. 

